Enclosure for airplane



Jan. 22, 1963 M.' B. CONRAD ETAL 3,074,518

ENCLOSURE FOR AIRPLANE Filed July 5, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M97 5.CUM/Q40 (av/V572. Iii/477M025 INVENTORS BY i gm Jan. 22, 1963 M. B.CONRAD EI'Al. 3,074,518

ENCLOSURE FOR AIRPLANE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 5, 1961 5 WW w 5m inM w 6 4 Z M & M 3 5 Fa z 5 m k y 5 4 W 2 2 Filed July 5, 1961, Ser. No.121,857 10 Claims. (Cl. 189-1.5)

This invention relates to airplane hangars and is directed to animproved form of inexpensive hangar particularly adapted for enclosing asmall private airplane. Such airplanes are usually relativelylightweight single engine craft.

An important object of this invention is to provide a hangar forenclosing aircraft when not in use and which employs a novel foldingpanel assembly to provide a maximum size door opening.

Another object is to provide a hangar of this type which forms anenclosure to protect the airplane against the weather, which is low ininitial cost, durable, and adapted for a long service life.

Another object is to provide an airplane hangar of this type, which willserve as a garage for a conventional automobile, so that a private pilotmay store his automobile in the hangar while he is operating theairplane.

A related object is to provide a multiple compartment hangar for storinga plurality of airplanes with a maximum utilization of space.

Other and more detailed objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation showing a preferred embodiment of ourinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation thereof, the folding panels being in closedposition.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, the folding panels being in openposition.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line44 as shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is an elevation partly broken away taken from the interior ofthe hangar, and showing the folding panels in partly open position.

FIGURE 6 is a -perspective view showing a modification.

FIGURE 7 is a plan view partly broken away of the device shown in FIGURE6.

Referring to the drawings, the hangar generally designated 10 comprisesa structure which includes a roof 11 supported by parallel side walls 12and 13 and a rear wall 14. As best shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, only aportion of the side walls of 12 and 13 are fixed; the remaining frontportions are formed by folding panels which underlie the projectingoverhanging portion of the roof 11. The panels 15 and 16 form a portionof the side wall 12 when they are in the closed position as shown inFIGURE 2, but they swing upward and outward as shown in FIGURE 3 toprovide an access opening, so that the airplane A may be moved into orout of the hangar 10. The airplane shown in the drawings is alightweight single engine craft of the type commonly used for privateflying. The front wall 17 cooperates with the side walls 12 and 13, rearwall 14, roof 11, and horizontal surface 18 to provide an enclosure forthe airplane A.

The side wall panels 15 and 16 are rectangular in shape and areconnectedby hinges 19 (see FIGURE 5) along their horizontal joint 20.Hinges 21 pivotally support the wall panel 15 on the overhangingprojecting portion of the roof 11. The lower edge of the wall panel 16is substantially flush with the horizontal surface 18 in closedposition.

3,@74,5i8 Patented Jan. 22, 1963 The front wall 17 is formed of tworectangular panels 23 and 24, and connected by hinges 25 along theirhorizontal joint 26. These front wall panels are suspended from theoverhanging portion of the roof 11 by means of hinges 27 along the upperedge of the panel 23. The lower edge of the panel 24 in closed positionlies substantially flush with the horizontal surface 18. The side wall13 is provided with wall panels which are essentially duplicates of thepanels 15 and 16 and they are connected and supported in the manneroutlined above.

The front lower corners of the side wall panels are connected toadjoining corners of the front wall lower panel by means of thearticulated hinge device shown in FIGURE 4. This biaxial hinge generallydesignated 30 includes an L-shaped pivot pin 31 having a first portion32 hingedly received in the bracket 33, and a second right angle portion34 hingedly received in the bracket 35. The bracket 33 is fixed to thefront wall lower panel 24 and the bracket 35 is fixed to the lowerforward corner of the side wall panel 16. A similar articulated hinge 36joins the lower corners of the front wall and the side wall 13. Theright angle parts of the articulated hinges 30 and 36 permit the frontwall panels and the side wall panels 'to be raised from the closedposition shown in FIGURE 2 to the open position shown in FIGURE 3, whilemaintaining the lower corners of adjacent lower panels againstseparation. Accordingly the folding panels on the side wall and thefolding panels on the front wall move at the same time.

Means are provided for connterbalancing the weight of the panels and formaintaining them in a raised position as shown in FIGURE 3. A tensioncable 40 has one end attached at 41 to the lower corner of the panel 16,and this cable is spooled on a drum 42. The drum is fixed to a rotaryshaft 43 mounted in spaced bearings 44- carried by the roof 11. Atorsion spring 45 encircles a portion of the rotary shaft 63 and has oneend 46 fixed relative to the shaft and another end fixed relative to oneof the bearings 44. The parts are arranged so that the force of thespring tends to turn the spooling drum 42 in the direction to wind upthe cable 40, and thereby lift the panels to open position shown inFIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 shows the counterbalancing device at one forward corner of thehangar and a similar counterbalance device is employed at the otherforward corner as well.

In addition to the folding panels which comprise part of the side walls12 and 13, there are provided will sections 50 on each side wall, whichare supported by hinges 51 along the vertical joint 52. These wallsections swing around the vertical axis of the hinges 51 from the closedposition shown in FIGURE 2 to the open position shown in FIGURE 3. Ifdesired, wall segments 54 may be hinged to the upper horizontal edge ofthe swinging wall sections 50.

In operation, the hangar parts are placed in the open position as shownin FIGURE 3, and the airplane A is backed into the enclosure, the wingsB of the airplane A projecting laterally beyond the side walls 12 and13. The wall sections 50' are then swung about the vertical axis of thehinges '51 to underlie a portion of the wings B. The folding panels onthe side walls and front wall are then lowered to the closed positionshown in FIGURE 2. The enclosure is then complete except for the sideapertures of 48 in the walls 12 and 13 through which the airplane wingsproject. a

In regions where snow load or hail damage to the exposed portion of theairplane wings is a possibility, the roof 11 may be extended laterallyin the region directly over the wings. In most regions this additionalprotec tion is not necessary.

The width of the hangar It is such that in the absence of the airplanean automobile may be placed inside. This is a convenience for theprivate pilot who may wish to keep his automobile in the hangar while heis using the airplane.

in the modified form of the invention shown in FIG- URES 6 and 7 amultiple unit or compartmented hangar 69 is employed. The total width ofthe hangar 66 is greater than the length of the individual enclosures 61formed therein. The enclosures are each of the type previouslyprescribed and their placement within the large hangar structure 6-9permits the airplanes to be nested for a maximum utilization of space.Furthermore, the wings B of adjacent airplanes A project into open spacewhich is covered by the roof 62. The forward end of each enclosureincluding the side walls 63 and 6d, and the front wall 65 are formed offolding wall panels constructed and arranged as previously described.

Having fully described our invention, it is to be understood that we arenot to be limited to the details herein set forth, but that ourinvention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of: a pair ofwalls meeting at an angle to form a corner of a structure, each of saidwalls including an upper panel and a lower panel, hinge means connectingthe upper and lower panels along a horizontal joint, respectively, thepanels of one wall having an edge adjacent an edge of the panels of theother wall, pivot means on the upper portion of each of said upperpanels for supporting said upper panels for pivotal movement about ahorizontal axis parallel to its respective horizontal joint, and meanspreventing separation of the adjacent lower portions of said lowerpanels, whereby the upper and lower panels may be lifted and swung abouttheir connecting hinge means, respectively, to form an access openinginto the structure.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of: a structurehaving walls and a roof cooperating with a horizontal surface 'to forman enclosure, two of said walls meeting at an angle to form a corner ofsaid structure, each of the latter said walls includim an upper paneland a lower panel, hinge means connecting the upper and lower panelsalong a horizontal joint, respectively, the panels of one wall having anedge adjacent an edge of the panels of the other wall, pivot meansconnecting each of said upper panels to said structure for pivotalmovement about a horizontal axis parallel to its respective horizontaljoint, and means preventing sepanation of the adjacent lower edges ofsaid lower panels, whereby the upper and lower panels may be lifted andswung about their connecting hinge means, respectively to form an accessopening to said enclosure.

3. In a device :of the class described, the combination of: .a structurehaving walls and a roof cooperating with a horizontal surface to form anenclosure, two of said walls meeting at a right angle to form a cornerof said structure, each of the latter said walls including an upperpanel and a lower panel, the panels being generally rectangular hingemeans connecting the upper and lower panels along a horizontal joint,respectively, the panels of one wall having a vertical edge adjacent avertical edge of the panels of the other wall, pivot means connectingeach of said upper panels to said structure for pivotal movement aboutan axis parallel to its respective horizontal joint, and

articulated hinge means preventing separation of the adjacent loweredges of said lower panels, whereby the upper and lower panels may belifted and swung about their connecting hinge means, respectively, toform an access opening to said enclosure.

4. In an enclosure for an airplane, the combination of: a structurehaving walls and [a roof cooperating with a horizontal surface to forman enclosure, one of said walls comprising movable panels to providesaid structure with an access opening through which an airplane may bemoved, two other of said walls each having panels 00- operating todefine a lateral [opening therein, the lateral openings being positionedto permit the Wings of the airplane to project therethrough, at leastone panel of the Walls being movable to permit entry of the airplanewings into said lateral openings.

5. In an enclosure for an airplane, the combination of: a generallyrectangular structure having walls and -a roof cooperating with ahorizontal surface to form an enclosure, one of said walls comprising afront wall having movable panels to provide said structure with anaccess opening through which an airplane may be moved, two other of saidwalls comprising parallel side walls each having panels cooperating todefine a lateral opening therein, the lateral openings being positionedto permit the wings of the airplane to project therethrough, at leastone panel of the side walls being movable to permitentry of the airplaneinto said lateral openings.

6. In an enclosure for an airplane, the combination of: a structurehaving walls and a roof cooperating with a horizontal surface to form anenclosure, said walls including side walls and a front wall, the frontwall and an adjoining portion .ofea-ch side wall comprising movablepanels to provide said structure with an access opening through which anairplane may be moved, the side walls each having a lateral opening,said lateral openings being positioned to permit the wings of theairplane to project therethrough, movement of said panels to form saidaccess opening serving to permit entry of the airplane wings into saidlateral openings. 7

7. In an enclosure for an airplane, the combination of: a generallyrectangular structure having walls and a roof cooperating with ahorizontal surface to form an enclosure, said walls including parallelside walls and a front wall, the front wall and an adjoining portionofeach side wall comprising movable panels toprovide said structure withan access opening through which an airplane may be moved, the side wallseach having a lateral opening adjacent a panel thereof, said lateralopenings being positioned to permit the wings of the airplane to projecttherethrough, movement of said panels to form said access openingserving to permit entry of the airplane wings into said lateralopenings.

8. In an enclosure for an airplane, the combination of: a structurehaving a roof supponted by side walls and a rearwall, a front wall, saidwalls and roof cooperating with a horizontal surface to form anenclosure, the front wall and an adjoining portion of each side wallcomprising movable panels suspended from a projecting unsupportedportion of said roof, said panels .acting to provide said structure withan access opening through which an airplane may be moved, the side wallseach having a lateral opening, said lateral openings being positioned topermit the wings of the airplane .to project therethrough, movement ofsaid panels to form said access opening serving toperrnit entry of theairplane wings into said lateral openings.

9. In an enclosure for an airplane, the combination of: a structurehaving a roof supported by vertical side walls and a rear wall, avertical front wall, said walls androof cooperating with a horizontalsurface to form an enclosure, the front wall and an adjoining portion ofeach side wall comprising movable panels suspended from a projectingunsupported portion of said roof, articulated hinge means connecting thelower adjacent corners of said panels, said panels acting to providesaid structure with an access opening through which an airplane .may bemoved, the side walls each having a lateral opening, said lateralopenings being positioned to permit the wings of the airplane to projecttherethrough, movement of said panels to form said access openingserving to permit'entry of the airplane wings into said lateralopenings.

10. In a multiple enclosure structure fora plurality of airplanes, thecombination of: a structure having a roof 5 a supported by a. pluralityof longitudinal walls and a plurmay be moved, the longitudinal Wallseach having a eality of rear Walls, a plurality of front Walls, saidwalls lateral opening, said lateral openings being positioned to androof cooperating with a horizontal surface to form a permit the wings ofthe airplane to project thereehrough plurality of compartments, adjacentcompartments havinto space beneath said roof.

ing their respective front Walls at opposite ends thereof, 5 Referenceseifie in the file of this patent the front Wall and an adjoining portionof each longitudinal Wall of each compartment comprising movable UNITEDSTATES PATENTS panels suspended from a projecting unsupported portion1,970,222 Byrne Aug. 14, 1934 of said roof, :said panels actin toprovide each comparment With an access opening through which an airplane10

10. IN A MULTIPLE ENCLOSURE STRUCTURE FOR A PLURALITY OF AIRPLANES, THECOMBINATION OF: A STRUCTURE HAVING A ROOF SUPPORTED BY A PLURALITY OFLONGITUDINAL WALLS AND A PLURALITY OF REAR WALLS, A PLURALITY OF FRONTWALLS, SAID WALLS AND ROOF COOPERATING WITH A HORIZONTAL SURFACE TO FORMA PLURALITY OF COMPARTMENTS, ADJACENT COMPARTMENTS HAVING THEIRRESPECTIVE FRONT WALLS AT OPPOSITE ENDS THEROF, THE FRONT WALL AND ANADJOINING PORTION OF EACH LONGITUDINAL WALL OF EACH COMPARTMENTCOMPRISING MOVABLE PANELS SUSPENDED FROM A PROJECTING UNSUPPORTEDPORTION OF SAID ROOF, SAID PANELS ACTING TO PROVIDE EACH COMPARTMENTWITH AN ACCESS OPENING THROUGH WHICH AN AIRPLANE MAY BE MOVED, THELONGITUDINAL WALLS EACH HAVING A LATERAL OPENING, SAID LATERAL OPENINGSBEING POSITIONED TO PERMIT THE WINGS OF THE AIRPLANE TO PROJECTTHERETHROUGH INTO SPACE BENEATH SAID ROOF.